OMAR Beckles looks set to be part of the exodus from Crewe as the club prepares to release its retained list.

The defender has stalled on committing himself to fresh terms and is understood to have dropped on the radar of League One rivals Wigan Athletic.

Beckles, 29, signed a one-year deal with the option of a further year when he joined the Alex last September after turning down new terms at Shrewsbury.

Before he arrived at Gresty Road he spent time on trial with the Latics last summer.

While he quickly became a Crewe fans' favourite with some dominant displays in his preferred central defensive role, in recent weeks he has not been an automatic pick at the back for Dave Artell.

With Donervon Daniels, another defender in his first campaign with the club, available again after long-term injury problems, and young Middlesbrough loan defender Nathan Wood and Olly Lancashire pressing their cases, the Crewe boss has had options at the heart of his defence.

While striker Mikael Mandron was quick to agree a new contract in February, Beckles and midfielder Ryan Wintle, also a free agent this summer, have resisted the club's overtures.

Both are set to leave with Wintle attracting higher interest. But Artell is hopeful that homegrown attacker Callum Ainley, who is at the end of his current deal, will pen new terms.

The manager has finalised the futures of Crewe's other out-of-contract players with the release of veteran defender Eddie Nolan, who was farmed out on loan to Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League in January, being a formality.

Lancashire's streak of consistent displays in the latter half of the season make his future harder to call, while veteran striker Chris Porter, is also out of contract.

While the 37-year-old has tended to be more of a supporting act up top in 2020/21, he still managed seven goals, and if he is to depart then he signed off in style with the winner in Sunday's 3-2 home finale over Shrewsbury.

Much more than a well-travelled journeyman, the ex-Bury, Oldham, Motherwell, Sheffield United and Colchester frontman has made a significant contribution over his four campaigns with Crewe, scoring 48 times in 148 appearances.

Winger Daniel Powell looks likely to be on the exit list after failing to re-emerge from injury after early March. The former MK Dons and Northampton man has endured a disappointing season after playing a key role in the 2019/20 promotion from League Two.

Several of the club's younger set are also out of contract, including Travis Johnson, 20, who has started nine times this season.

Welsh youth international defender Billy Sass-Davies, 21, after scoring against Lincoln in the Caraboa Cup opener back in September has spent most of the season on loan at Altrincham and Yeovil in the National League.

Decisions have been made on midfielder Josh Lundstram, 22, whose progress has been hit by injury this term, full-back Nathan Woodthorpe, 19, who recently underwent knee surgery, midfielder Regan Griffiths, 21, who has been on loan at Notts County, and striker Tyreece Onyeka, 20.